SAT, Oct 9 \ 11.30-13.30 \ Prevention Programs, ΙΙΙ

108
SEXUAL OFFENDERS AND THEIR PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS: A 2 ½ YEARS' ASSESSMENT IN A CATCHMENT AREA

Reinhard Eher, Patrick Frottier, Wolfgang Neuwirth, Frank Schilling, Thomas Graf, Christoph Koeb
Federal Documentation Centre for Sexual Offenders, Vienna, Austria
reinhard.eher@justiz.gv.at

This paper reports about a new assessment centre for incarcerated sexual offenders in the Austrian prison system. 70-80% of all incarcerated sexual offenders are seen routinely in this assessment centre. An extensive examination about the occurrence of psychiatric disorders and about the risk of relapse is done routinely. Preliminary data reveal a high prevalence of personality disorders and severe sexual disorders in this group. Finally, results are discussed emphasizing the needs of a therapeutic management, particularly for those 15-30% who represent high risk offenders

109
OUTPATIENT CIVIL COMMITMENT IN TEXAS FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT OF SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATORS

Walter J. Meyer, MD, Maria Tsacrios Molett, M.A., LPC, RSOTP
The Council on Sex Offender Treatment, Garland, Texas, USA
Exdirmjtm@aol.com

Texas established in 1999 outpatient civil commitment for sexually violent predators. This is the only outpatient program in the USA for sexually violent predators. These individuals suffer from a behavioral abnormality, have been convicted of two or more sexually violent crimes and are deemed likely to reoffend. Civilly committed individuals are managed by a team composed of a case manager (supervision), treatment provider, public safety officer (global positioning satellite monitoring), and other professionals. Treatment consists of individual and group treatment as well as use of polygraphs and plethysmographs to monitor compliance and treatment gains. To date there are 36 civilly committed and no reoffenses. The cost per SVP is $30,000.00 per year as compared to inpatient treatment of $100,000.00 per year. Participants in this workshop will learn how the program is set up, statistics concerning all aspects of the program, the struggles and the successes of running an outpatient civil commitment program.

110
WORKING WITH SEXUAL ABUSERS WITHIN A CHILD PROTECTION CONTEXT

Jon Brown
Chair of NOTA, Assistant Director of NCH, England

Our understanding of the aetiology of sexual offending, of what factors are significant in increasing an individual's risk of re-offending and of what interventions are most effective in decreasing assessed risk has developed rapidly over the last 15 years. However, in the UK, North America and a number of European countries assessment and treatment programmes which have been informed by this developed knowledge base are, predominantly only available to a relatively small number of offenders who are in the Criminal Justice System.
The great majority of sex offenders remain unknown, un-assessed and often unmonitored and living in families. There is an urgent need to further develop the child protection system in the UK based on our current understanding of sexual offending and also the current accredited sex offender programmes based on our understanding of what works in child protection.
Drawing on the public health approach to sexual abuse prevention this presentation will explore practical ways in which sex offender programmes can and should be developed to link more closely with and inform the child protection system and in which this system should evolve to reflect current knowledge in sexual offending.

111
CAN GOVERNMENTS REDUCE SEXUAL RECONVICTION RATES? THE UK EXPERIENCE

David Middleton B.A. (Hons); C.Q.S.W.; Dip. S.W.; Cert. S.S.Mgt.
Head of sex Offender strategy and Programmes,
Home Office, National Probation Directorate of England and Wales, England
David.Middleton2@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

The UK government has a twin-track approach to reducing sexual reconvictions and protecting the public from sexual offenders. This approach is based on managing the risks through control measures and reducing the risk through treatment programmes. Therefore it has sought to tackle sexual reconviction by reviewing sexual offence legislation, requiring the registration of convicted sex offenders and seeking to impose restrictions on the movement and associations of known offenders. At the same time it has embarked on large-scale implementation of treatment programmes both in prison and in the community. The presentation will include information on the key aspects of this twin-track approach.
In particular there will be an outline of the arrangements for Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements through which information on registered sex offenders is shared between agencies who formulate a joint risk management plan for each high risk sex offender. There are currently over 21,000 sex offenders who are subject to registration requirements. The UK Government has rejected calls to make information on individual offenders available to the public.
Finally details will also be given of the treatment programmes including theoretical basis, methods and treatment targets. There are approximately 1,000 sex offenders in prison and 2,000 sex offenders in the community who are attending treatment programmes. In order to begin to assess the reduction in reconviction rates the presentation will end on evaluation and effectiveness data.